Emmanuel Sanders features in 49ers’ highlight reel...

1of249ers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders had seven catches for 157 yards and a touchdown, on top of throwing a touchdown pass.Photo: Butch Dill / Associated Press

2of249ers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders pulls in a touchdown reception as New Orleans Saints free safety Marcus Williams (43) falls to the turf in the first half of San Francisco’s win over New Orleans.Photo: Butch Dill / Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — In a game that didn’t lack for highlights, Emmanuel Sanders put together a particularly noteworthy reel.

In the second quarter, he both caught a touchdown pass and threw a touchdown pass.

“I’m exhausted,” he said after the game, with a big smile.

The 49ers’ 48-46 victory over the Saints was like fantasy football on steroids. And if you had Sanders on your team, you had to be thrilled.

With the 49ers trailing 20-7, Sanders caught a deep pass from Jimmy Garoppolo.

“I didn’t think I was open,” Sanders said. “I just saw the ball in the air.”

He caught it like a punt and fell to the ground, then — untouched — hopped and raced the final 26 yards into the end zone to complete a 75-yard play.

On the 49ers’ next possession, then trailing 27-14, Garoppolo handed the ball to Deebo Samuel, who pitched it to Sanders. Under pressure from a rushing linebacker, Sanders threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Raheem Mostert.

The quarterback used air quotes to make sure his audience knew what that meant.

Though Sanders played multiple positions in high school, quarterback wasn’t one. Yet Sunday wasn’t the first time the wide receiver has thrown a touchdown pass. He did it last season, when he was playing for Denver, against the Cardinals.

The 49ers practiced the play last week while they were training in Florida.

“We ran it like five times and the last time we ran it, I actually threw a duck,” he said. “I would have been on ESPN’s ‘Not the Top 10.’ I knew Kyle (Shanahan) was thinking, ‘Please don’t throw the duck again. Please be a touchdown.’”

Sanders finished with seven catches for 157 yards. He said he didn’t really have a preference over catching a touchdown or throwing one.

“Both,” he said, “but throwing one is even sweeter.”

Sanders ended up being overshadowed by tight end George Kittle’s huge second half.

“I knew he was going to take off,” Sanders said. “George is a baller.”

But Sanders’ own highlight reel was impressive.

“Kyle and (New Orleans head coach) Sean Payton going toe to toe, and players executing,” he said with admiration. “It was a beautiful game.”

Born in San Francisco and raised in Marin County, Ann Killion has covered Bay Area sports for more than two decades. An award-winning columnist and a veteran of 11 Olympics, several World Cups and the Tour de France, Ann joined The Chronicle in 2012. Ann has worked for the San Jose Mercury News, the Los Angeles Times and Sports Illustrated. She is a New York Times best-selling author, having co-written "Solo: A Memoir of Hope" with soccer star Hope Solo,"Throw Like A Girl" with softball player Jennie Finch and two middle-grade books on soccer, “Champions of Women’s Soccer” and “Champions of Men’s Soccer.” She was named California Sportswriter of the Year in both 2014 and 2017. She has two children and lives in Mill Valley.